Car sales down 23.7% in 8 months

Passenger car sales dropped 23.7 percent to 15,818 units in the first eight months of the year from the year-ago 20,736 units, the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines Inc. (Campi) reported yesterday.

For August alone, car sales increased 4.2 percent to 2,707 units from 2,599 sold in the same year-ago period, data from the industry group showed.

August car sales were also higher than July’s 2,061 units.

Total sales of both passenger and commercial vehicles in the first eight months of the year fell 11.7 percent year on year to 50,324 units from year-earlier 57,014 units.

Campi Secretary General Mario de Grano said commercial vehicle sales showed uncharacteristic decline due to a corresponding drop in sales of Asian utility vehicles (AUVs).

De Grano said that the industry’s August performance had a depressing effect on overall sales, as the industry sold only eight more vehicles for the entire month, compared to last year.

He added the eight-month figure could also reflect the production lag in August.

The eight-month industry figures appeared to show a slightly improving picture compared to the downturn in the first seven months of the year when total industry decline was recorded at 13.6 percent.

Passenger car sales declined by a hefty 23.7 percent with only 15,818 new units sold compared with the 20,736 units sold in the first eight months of 2000.

Commercial vehicle sales fared much better than passenger cars, although sales were also down from last year’s figures. This year, the industry sold 34,506 units compared to 36,278 units sold last year, a decline of 4.9 percent.

However, Honda led the pack in terms of passenger car with sales of 5,513 units during the eight-month period.

Mitsubishi Motors Phils. Corp. ranked number two in total sales with 11,061 units followed by Honda at which sold 6,839 units.

Isuzu Phils. Corp. was ranked number four by CAMPI followed by Ford Motors Co. Phils., Inc. at 5th.

CAMPI ranked Nissan at 6th and 7th position, although Nissan has been trying to point out that it should actually be ranked number four based on its combined sales from Nissan Motors Phils. Inc. and Universal Motors Corp.